PCMA: Drugmaker Lobby Campaign Deflects Blame for High Drug Prices

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement regarding the drugmaker lobby's campaign to deflect blame for high drug prices:

"This latest campaign is an attempt to deflect blame for high drug prices onto the employers, unions, and insurers that struggle to provide affordable coverage.

"It's a losing strategy to demonize plans that apply savings from rebates and discounts to reduce overall premiums and copays but can't always afford first-dollar coverage for each new high-priced drug that comes to market.

"The messages in these ads conflict with previous statements from the drugmaker lobby that plans routinely "share" discounts and rebates to reduce premiums, deductibles and cost-sharing on prescription drugs."

PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 266 million Americans who have health insurance from a variety of sponsors including: commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, union plans, Medicare Part D plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), state government employee plans, Medicaid plans, and others.

SOURCE Pharmaceutical Care Management Association